Restoring a Saab 9-3

I am a Saab enthusiast and have a 9-3 as a project car. However, there are a few more mechanical problems than I anticipated. Firstly, when moving in first gear there is a whining noise. If moving off in second gear this noise is not there. There is also a vibrating noise coming from the gearbox under hard acceleration.

Regarding the engine - it is quite noisy and there is a lot of vibration when switching the engine off. This is particularly noticeable when the engine is cold. Please could you advise what the problems may be and if they are reasonably easy and/or cheap to fix?

Asked on 29 August 2016 by Olly S

Answered by Honest John

Worn first gear set. If the engine runs on when you switch it off that usually indicates carbon build up in the combustion chambers and the glowing carbon acts like spark plugs keeping the engine running. It's possible that a Terraclean will fix the engine, but the transmission can only be fixed by a transmission rebuild. A gearbox oil additive might hold the box together a bit longer.

Tags: technical issues modern classics

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